Weekender’s latest hits

Things are slowing down a bit, but we still have a few morsels to offer.

Music

 “The band can do so much more on an independent label or just doing it (ourselves), and just have more control over it and not bend over like you have to when you’re with a major label. We bent over enough.”  Toadies’ guitarist Clark Vogeler, whose band is playing th White Rabbit on Wednesday and Thursday. The first show is sold out.

 “It was a real eye-opener for me.The first thing is, I didn’t know Clifford Scott was from here. I’ve been playing ‘Honky Tonk,’ in one form or another, for years. When I saw a phalanx of 15 sax players playing ‘Honky Tonk’ in unison, it blew me away.”  Richard Oppenheim, who made his Holiday Saxophones debut last year. The latest incarnation is Sunday.

 Band names of the week: Santa’s Ass Cobras, playing for a Christmas Toy Drive Saturday at the Mix; Dick Wiggler and the River City Rebels, playing at Jiggers on Friday. The latter info came in the form of an email which added helpfully about Mr. Wiggler, the drummer: “If there is a problem running the Dick Wiggler name in print, the band also goes by Richard Wiggler. But his name is Dick.”

Movies, etc.

 What’s here: As I mentioned yesterday, two music-oriented films that could be lost in the renewed onslaught of Hollywood holiday product show up Friday with little advance notice. “Control,” starring Sam Riley as Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, has been described as Curtis’ story instead of the band’s, since it was based on a book by his wife. “Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten” is an actual documentary starring the Clash man himself.

 What’s not here: Movie buffs perusing the list of Golden Globe nominees will see a lot of unfamiliar names. “Atonement,” a drama set in pre-World War II England starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, got the most nominations (seven). At this moment, it isn’t scheduled to open in San Antonio until Jan. 4. Others that popped onto the list either have January opening dates (“Savages,” “Grace Is Gone”) or none at all (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “There Will Be Blood”).

 Surprise of the week: “Alvin and the Chipmunks” is not unwatchably horrible, Larry Ratliff says.